Drugs and alcohol continue to harm America's children. As a response to continuing concerns about the impact of substance use and abuse, the Wichita Police-School Liaison Section incorporated the DARE component into its overall program, which aims to increase student awareness of citizens' rights and responsibilities under the law while fostering positive attitudes toward police officers and law enforcement. DARE was originally founded in 1983 by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Unified School District and went nationwide in 1987. Helping students make correct decisions about alcohol and drug abuse is what the DARE program is about and the Wichita Police Department and Wichita Public Schools have made this an integral part of the Police-School Liaison program since 1993.

The Major goal of DARE is to prevent substance abuse among school children through lessons that focus on:  Providing skills to recognize and resist social and peer pressure to experiment with tobacco, alcohol and drugs. Helping enhance self esteem. Teaching positive alternatives to substance abuse. Developing skills in risk assessment and decision making. Building interpersonal and communications skills.

DARE objectives have been achieved by training carefully selected, veteran law enforcement officers to teach the structured, sequential curriculum in schools. DARE instructors complete special training in human relations and communications skills, multicultural awareness and children's issues. They employ a variety of teaching strategies and encourage a healthy exchange of ideas and feelings in the learning process. 

Each semester, students at elementary schools receive DARE training. Successful completion is based on attendance and involvement in discussions and presentations.

All Wichita Schools that have chosen to participate in the D.A.R.E. program, were invited to a skating party on either January 4 or April 18 at Carousel Skating Center ( 312 N. West Street, Wichita // 316-942-4505) As you can see, most everyone had fun.

For fun activities and more information about DARE, you can visit the official website by clicking here.